7 Weeks Postpartum + Jump Start Milk Supply

I know I say this every week, but I seriously can’t believe how fast our girls are growing. I can’t believe it has been 7 weeks since I gave birth to our beautiful baby girls.

Thanks to our wonderful Aqua Scale we have been weighing them weekly and they are growing amazingly well.

McKenzie Madison – 8 lbs. 10 oz.

McKayla Grace – 6 lbs. 1 oz.

I can’t believe how much they have grown and all from Mama’s milk. 🙂

One of my worries when they were born and had to be in the NICU was whether or not I would be able to breastfed them. I worried about being able to produce enough milk and their latching on ability, since they were born at just shy of 34 weeks.

I was truly blessed to be given an amply supply of milk from the start. I know there are many moms like me that worry about breastfeeding their babies for various reasons. So, I thought I would share with you my experience about jump starting my milk.

Jump Starting Milk Supply

If for some reason you cannot breastfed your baby right away you can make milk. Weather they are in the NICU or unable to latch on.

First, let me fill you in on our experience. Our girls were born at 33 weeks 6 days and needed to be in the NICU for regulating body temperature and learning to eat. Within the first 24 hours McKenzie actually nursed two different times and McKayla nursed once. I have to say was a wonderful miracle. The nurses always encouraged me to try, but never knew what was going to happen. We were all pleasantly surprised when even little McKayla was able to latch on and nurse.

Once the girls were three days old they all of a sudden stopped taking milk from a bottle or breast. They had to be put on a feeding tube. This broke my heart even though the nurses said this is very typical for preemie babies. They are doing exactly what they should be doing, sleeping.

Here is what I did and learned throughout our NICU time on how to jumpstart my milk supply:

As soon as you can start pumping. Most hospitals will provide you with a hospital grade pump to use during your stay. These pumps are amazingly strong and a wonderful way to get your milk supply going. I used this pump while in the hospital and we decided to rent it for a week, 30 dollars, to make sure my milk supply was strong.

Hospital Grade Pump – Medela Symphony

Pump every two hours during the day and every 3 hours at night for about 20 minutes. This is very important. At the beginning you will only be able to get a drizzle or so. You will barely be able to cover the bottom of the bottle. This was discouraging to me, but that is what is supposed to happen. Keep pumping even if nothing is coming out. Always do about 20 minutes the first few days!!

The first few days our bodies produce colostrum. At about 3 days or so traditional milk begins to come in and you will be able to get measurable ounces out each time. Once my milk came in at about 3 days, I produced enough milk so that they were no longer given formula. They were switched to only my milk. At about 6 days I was able to pump enough to milk for both of them and still had some to freeze. My freezer is filled.

Remember while you are exclusively pumping your nipples will be very sore, but it does get better. I was thrilled when both girls came home and I could stop pumping and simply nurse them.

Don’t forget to use your nipple cream or coconut oil works really well too.

This is what I did with my two older girls. They were great at breastfeeding. Isabella was even better then Sophia, but I think it is because I was better the second time around. Both my girls nursed until 14-15 months.

Put baby to your breast within 30 minutes (or as soon as possible) of coming into the world.

Nurse on demand; about every 2-3 hours.

Once your milk supply comes in at about 3 days pump for about 10-15 after each session during the day. This is what is going to really get your milk going. Do this for about 2 weeks.

After about 2 weeks pump only after your morning session or which pumping session works best for you.

Once you have a great milk supply and a freeze full of extra reinforcement you can simply nurse your baby(ies).

That is what worked for me. I hope that can help all of you, as well.

7 Weeks Postpartum Check-In

As most of you know this has been a rough week for me, but we are starting to figure things out. Emotionally, I am all over the place. I think lack of sleep doesn’t help. just when they were starting to sleep better the decided to change things up.

In seven weeks Sophia and Isabella have evolved into the best big sisters!!

Sophia has really become a wonderful helper. She is truly amazing with her little sisters. She loves to hold McKenzie and McKayla. Sophia loves to sing to the girls and she certainly loves to hold them. She is always telling them that she is their biggest sister. It is so sweet!!

Our Isabella what a sweetheart. She has really grown up in the past several weeks. Isabella is such a mama’s girl and I was so worried about how she would adjust but she has been amazing. She loves to hold both the girls. She always tells them she is Isabella their big sister. Whenever McKenzie and McKayla cry she says, “Mommy baby crying” or “Mommy baby needs your booboo”. She hates when they cry.

I love how kind and caring both Sophia and Isabella are towards their little sisters. I am madly in love with our family of six.

My Stats:

My weight is down another pound. I am now 3 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight. But quite a bit softer then I was before the babies.

Measurements:

Hips: 35 inches – 1 inch smaller then pre-pregnancy. Thank you to my Shrinkx Hips. After pregnancy is the only time you can actually reduce your hip size. You can read all about the science of how this works here.

Bellybutton: 29 inches – 1 inch away from pre-pregnancy size.

Thighs: 20 inches – 1 inch smaller then pre-pregnancy. I think this has to do with muscle loss.

About Renee

My name is Renee and I am a 30 year old wife and mother to four little girls. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Fit for Motherhood is my journey through motherhood, pregnancy and life in general all while trying my best to be fit and healthy.

I always play around with the speed. I only go as high as I can go without being too painful. At the beginning it was definitely more painful, now there is no pain at all. The key is you don’t want to be in a lot of pain, so figure out what works best for you.

I wanted to respond to your Monday post sooner, but wasn’t able too! I really want to thank you for your honesty & keeping it real. So many of us following your blog are going to be in your shoes in a matter of days, weeks or months. Everything I’ve read about having twins says its going to be very intense. I have a 4 yr old & 2 yr old myself and it breaks my heart to know this will be both a wonderful & difficult season of life for our family. I can’t wait to see all 4 of our kids together though. Hang in there – so glad to hear the last few days have been better. I’m expecting the first 3 months to be really hard. Also, thanks so much for the nursing tips and encouragement. So many moms with preemies have difficulty so I’m glad to hear it can be done!

Thank you. Being a new mom is hard and being a new mom of twins is nothing I have ever experienced. I want all moms out there to know we all go through tough times and that is totally okay. Intense is a wonderful word for these first few months. If will be hard especially having two young children already, but you will do wonderful. 🙂

I found your blog last week and have been so encouraged reading it! I also have 2 precious little girls (5.5 & 2) and am 21 wks pregnant with twins & currently bed rested for pressure & contractions. It really helps to hear your pregnancy story, as well as what to expect postpartum. Thank you for your honesty and great reccomendations! A twin pregnancy is so different than a singleton pregnancy, so it’s nice to feel not so alone in this journey 🙂

Congratulations on your pregnancy!! That is so exciting. I am sorry you are on bed rest, that is truly no fun. I don’t know how you are doing it with two other little ones. I feel for you. I am so glad I can be of some support, I know how alone it can feel at times. Please keep me posted. 🙂

You’re doing great mama! 🙂 My biggest fear is that I won’t have a good supply. I know most mamas fear this, but it’s even worse when people tell me that I will ABSOLUTELY have to give my girls formula because I wont have to produce enough milk. This actually happened at the doctor the other day when the nurse told me this and INSISTED on giving me a crap ton of formula. Nice gesture, sure, but way to be a downer!

Oh thank you!! I had the same fear and still do some days. But when I put the girls on the scale in know my milk is right where it should be.

Please used to tell me that too, don’t listen to them. Yes, breastfeeding is difficult at first with one baby and even more so with two. But if you are determined you can do it. At the same time don’t feel bad if you have to supplement with formula that is totally fine. I kept telling myself that throughout my pregnancy, but deep down I knew what I wanted to happen. Just don’t let anyone talk you out of it, be positive you can do it!! Please feel free to email me if you need support I know hard it can be. 🙂

I’m expecting my twins any day now. I’m 39 wks 2 days with di/di twin girls and I also have a four and two year old girls. I love your blog!
I nursed both of my singletons for a year so I definitely want to nurse the twins. What are some strategies you use to keep the older girls occupied while you are nursing the twins?

I am so excited for you. Please keep me updated!! Life is going to be crazy, but wonderful. It is such a joy being a mom to four girls. Thank you.

Since you are an experienced at nursing you are going to have no problem. I really feel it helped that I had nursed to babies before having our twins.

Oh keeping the girls busy that is a great question. Sometimes I have them bring books to me and I read to them while I nurse, sometimes I set them up with play dough or another craft that I know they can handle on their own (coloring is great), and I hate to say it sometimes I put on a TV show or have them play on the computer or IPad. I wish I didn’t have to use the TV, but sometimes I do. You will find what works best for you but those are all things I find helpful. 🙂

These are great tips! When I was pregnant with Keenan I always worried if I was going to produce enough milk or have trouble breastfeeding and in those first few weeks after he was born, all I could think about it if he was getting enough. I think every new mom goes through that the first month or so, but being determined and sticking with it is key. Mamas know best and listening to our own intuition is the best advice!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

My name is Renee and I am a 30 year old wife and mother to four little girls; a 6 year old, 4 year old, and 2 year old identical twin girls. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Fit for Motherhood is my journey through motherhood, pregnancy, and life in general; all while trying to be fit and healthy, most of the time. I love new recipes, trying different types of exercise, and enjoying life.